Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



H. GARNER. MAIL BAG GATGHBR AND maLIvERBR.v APPLICATION FILED MAY 26,1908. 915,092. Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 :u IMM rHE NbRRls FErERs co., wAsnINamH. n, c.

' H. GARNBR. MAIL BAG GATGHER' AND DELIVERER. APPLIUATION FILED MAY 26,1908.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'o A S2/@Nuancen H. GARNER. MAIL BAG GATUHER AND DIIYERER. APPLIGATIONFILED MAY 26, 19o.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. GARNER. MAIL BAG CATGHBR .um DELIVBRBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1908- 91 5,092. Patented Mar. 16, 1909.l{SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1H: Nomus Psrsns co.. wAsHmcmu, n4 c4 HENRY GARNER, OF MEDIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG- Ci-LTEER AND DELIVEBER.

Application led May 2G, 1996.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 190,9.

Serial No. 435,169.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY Gaiman, a citizen of the United States,residing at Media, in the county of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Mail Bag Catcher and Deliverer, of whichthe iollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag receiing and delivering apparatusadapted to be used in conjunction with moving trains and has for anobject to provide a simple, cheap and etllcient means of delivering amail bag from a moving trein toa stationary point or vice versa withoutsubjecting the bag to the slightest rough usage or liability of itsbecoming torn open or ruined.

is well known that apparatus in the present day service does not work atall satisfactorily in view of the fact that such apparatus is of a crudenature and the mail bags are subject to rough handling, in many casesbeing thrown violently against the receiving apparatus so that in ashort time they are either destroyed or are cut to pieces by missing thereceiving` apparatus and being ground under the wheels of the movingtrain.

My apparatus consists of a strong stili framework mounted adjacent arailroad track and firmly braced to resist the impact of the heaviestmail bags traveling with a maximum momentum received from a movingtrain. This framework cooperates with a suitable apparatus on the carfor delivering and receiving the mail bags which are themselves placedin a novel receptacle, whereby they are protected from all the wear andtear incident to like apparatus used in the present practice.

lt further consists of other novel features of construction, all as willbe hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven tion l have shown in theaccompanying drawings those embodiments thereof which are at presentpreferred by me and which have been found in practice to givesatisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be va1iously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein set forth.

Figure l represents a plan of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig.2 represents a perspective view of my novel releasing clamps. Fig. 3represent-s a perspective view of portion of a cooperating part. Fig. 4represents a section through the same in operative position. Fig. 5represents a side elevation of the apparatus receiving a mail bagreceptacle. 6 represents a side elevation oi' the apparatus deliv ring amail bag receptacle. Fig. represents an end view of a car delivering andreceiving apparatus. l'iig. 8 represents an end view oi' Fig. llig. 9represents a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus locatedbeside a railroad track.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in theligures.

liefe 1ring to the drawings 1 designates a platform located adjacent arailroad track 2 and supported on a suitable framework at a suilicientdistance from the ground to bring the platform at a convenient heightrelative to the floor of a mail car so that receptacles may4 beinterchanged between the two very readily.

lt will be noted that the framework com prises, besides suitable braces3, a pair of uprights fl and 5, vertically secured relative to a pair oibars 6, the end portions of which are adapted to pass adjacent the tiesand beneath the rails to which they firmly secured in any desired mannerto prevent relative distortion between the framework and the rails.Particular attention is called to this feature in view of the fact thatit frequently happens, through spreading of the rail, displacement ofthe track or other cause, that the distance of a train passing over thetracks is slightly altered relativo to stationary objects alongside thetrack. Should such displacement occur relative to the platform l and therails 2, cooperation etween the parts of my novel mail bag deliveringapparatus on the car and the receivingl apparatus .on the framework 4would be prevented and the de vice rendered inoperative. By passing thebars 6 under the rails 2, it will be seen that whatever change inposition of the rails 2, the uprights e and 5 of the framework 3 willstill maintain their correct relation relative to the side of a carpassing` over the rails, that is, in a plane substantially parallel tothe sides of the car.

7 designates an arm having a hook-shaped end 8 adapted to receive mailbag receptacles and is pivoted in any suitable manner, as by the pin 9,'to the lugs l0, mounted upon the upright 4. The arm 7 terminates at theend adjacent the platform 1 in the handle 11, whereby the saine may beswung about the upright 4 so that the hook end 8 isv brought directlyover the platform 1, thus allowing the removal of a mail bag receptaclein a convenient manner. 1n order to secure the arm '7 in operativeposition adjacent the railroad track and also to prevent impropermovement thereof, a latch 12 is pivoted to the upright 4 and. Ais sopositioned as to swing downwardly and engage recesses 13 in the lugs 10and therebylock the arm 7 in open position. Positioned above the arm 7and 'mounted on the upright 4 is an outwardly projecting trip arm 14which extends to a point approximately directly over the hook 8. Thefunction oi' these several parts will presently be described inconnection with the cooperating parts on the car, which will now betaken up in detail.

15 designates a bar pivotally secured to one side of the interior olVl acar 16 adjacent a door-way, in the present instance the ends thereofforming journals 17 mounted. in bearings 18 secured to a side iranic 19o'll the car 16. Fixedly secured to the bar 15 is an arm 2O having ahook end 21 similar to the arm 7 on upright 4 and performing a likefunction. Oi' course it will be understood that both the arms 7 and 20are adapted to engage their respective receptacles while the car is inmotion, one receptacle being deposited on the stationary arm 7 and theother carried oilL1 by the arm 20 on the car.

22 designates an arm iCiXedly secured in any suitable manner to the bar15 and located above the arm 20 and extending beyond the hook 2]. asuiiicient distance to make room for `a mail bag receptacle 23 adaptedto be suspended .l'roin the end oi' this arm Suitable braces 24 arelocated between the arms 20 and 22 in order to form a strengtheningtrame well adapted to withstand. the severe shocks incident to receivinga mail bag receptacle, while the car is running at very high speed. 1norder te prevent swinging ci thesearms, a latch 25 is suitably pivotedto one o'll the braces 24 or any other suitable place, so as to engage alug 26 cn the 'frame 'formed by the braces 24 and thereby lockthe armsin open position outside the carbody. 1t will be clear that by swingingthe latch 25 about its pivot, it will be released fiom the luv' 26, whenthe arms and bar 15 may be swung so as to enter entirely within the carbody. The arm 22 terminates in a lprojecting hook 27 adapted ierengagement with a latch 28 suitably pivoted on a swinging member 29pivoted to a projection 30 en the arm 22. In the present instance, thispivot comprises knuckles 31 on the niemb'erv29 engaging opposite sidesoil the projection 30 and being secured for a swinging movement by meansoi a pin 32 passing through suitable apertures in the respective Thelatch 28 comprises a hook il'ormed by a recess 34 which is adapted toengage and lock the member 29 to the 22 when it is swung into engagementwith the hook 27. 1t will be noted that the latch 28 has a lever arm 35ci' some considerable length providing a means for releasing the latchwhen desired, the operation oi which will be presently described.

1n order to prevent the latch from swinging a considerable distancebeyond the 'unlocking pin and thus interfering with other parts of theapparatus, a stop lug 25X is provided at a suitable point on the pivotedmember 29 in order to limit the backward swing-l ing of the lever arm35.

r1 recess 36 is formed in the member having an inclined wall 37 and asimilar recess 3S with a like wall therein is formed in the member 22,both recesses being so placed that when the parts are swung together andlatched, a wedge-shaped opening will be formed therebetween.

The upright 5 carries a delivering apparatus precisely similar to thatmounted cn the arm 22 which forms the delivering part of the apparatuson the moving car and; therefore it is thought unnecessary to describethe several parts in detail and they are, accordingly, provided withsimilar reference numerals having the exponents X in order to make aclear description between the several parts. The description alreadygiven may be read on one as well as the other.

It will be noted that the arm 22 is pivot-ed in a manner similar to thearm 7 and is provided with a like latch 12X whereby it may be locatedand locked in operative position. The mail bag receptacle 23 consists ofa basket-like body portion having bails 39 swingingly connected theretoby means oic the pivots 40 in. order that the shock resulting from theimpact with its cooperating part will be somewhat reduced. rfliese bails39 have preferably formed integral therewith, a top cross-bar 41, thelower portion of which has a recess 4 2 therethrough oi substantialljvthe same width as the receiving hooks S and 21 so that when thereceptacles are dropped upon one or the other of these hooks, thisrecessed portion will eilectually prevent any side swing tending toupset the receptacles and throw out the mail bags.

42 designates a projecting member having inclined sides corresponding tothe sides et the recesses 36 and 38 so that when this mem- 'ber isplaced in alinement with the recesses and thepart 29 closed7 and latchedagainst the arm 22, the receptacle will be firmly held. suspended fromthe end oi the arm 22X or 22 as the case may be. ilvlhen in thisposition it will be clear that if the lever 35 meets with anyobstruction, the latch 28 will immediately ioo be released from the hook27 and the mail bag receptacle 23 Will instantly drop by gravity.

The operation ofthe device is as follows The framework 4 carrying theplatform l is secured in place beneath the rails 2 oi an ordinaryrailroad track, and the apparatus correctly positioned relative to themovement of the cars on the said track. As soon as it is desired toreceive and despatch a mail bag to a moving train, the arm 7 forreceiving areceptacle 23 from a movingtrain is swung out in positionadjacent the tracks and loclred therein by means of the latch l2, ofcourse it being understood that the projecting trip arm 14 is stationaryand iiXed, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The mail bag to be delivered to themoving train is then placed in a similar receptacle 23 and theprojection e3 thereon inserted in the recess 38 oi the arm 22X andlocked therein, by swinging the member 29 into engagement therewith andbringing the hook member 33X over the hook 27, thereby raising the lever35X into a vertical position. in the meantime, the mail to be eliveredat this station is being made ready in the approaching train and isplaced in a receptacle which is projected from the door of the car andlocated in extended position outside the car and in alinement with thehook 8 on the iiXed arm 7.

lt will here be noted again that the lever arm 35 is projecting upwardlyand is in alinement with the stationaryT trip arm le. It Will beapparent that as the car comes opposite the upright e the projecting'trip arm l-'l will engage the lever 3.5 and quickly release the catch33, vwhereupon the swinging member 29 Will open and allow the receptacle23 to drop by gravity and since at this moment the hoolr` arm 7 hasentered beneath the bails 39 ot' the receptacle 23, it will dropdirectly upon this arm and be ready i'or removal, as desired. The car,oi course, passes on to a position opposite the upright 5 where the arm22 on the car acts as a trip for the lever 35X and releases thereceptacle which is to be delivered to the moving train. in an exactlysimilar manner this is released from the locking catches and drops bygravity to land up'on the projecting hook arm 2O Whi ch at this time haspassed Within the bails ol' the receptacle. ris soon as the train haspassed the station, the operator upon the platform l, may release thelatch 12 and swing the arm 7 around into position as indicated in dottedlines in Fig. l, over the platform i and remove the bags of mail fromthe receptacle. Substantially the same operation takes place on thetrain, the latch 25 being released and the framework swung around intothe interior oi the car and the bags taken from the receptacle 28 andpassed to the sorting clerks.

lit Will be apparent that I have devised a dent to the service While thebags which are carried therein are absolutely prot cted and are in nodanger ol' ben f cut, or torn open, whereby the contents are scatteredabout and destroyed.

it will nou' be apjnirent that l have devised a novel and usefulconstriwtion ol' a mail bag catcher and deliverer, which embodies theica-tures oll advantage enumerated as desirable in. the statement oiinvention and the above description and While l have in the presentinstance shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof vwhich hasbeen lound in practice to givesatisfactory and reliable results, it isto be understood that the same is susceptible oi' modi'iication invarious particulars without departing 'from the spirit and scope ol' theinvention or sacriiicing any ol its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, `what I claim as new and desire tosecure by lietters PatentI is l. In a device ol' the characterdescribed, a frame adjacent a railroad track, a receiving hook on saidframe, a trip arm adjacent said receiving hook, a. delivery arm on acar, a pivoted member on said delivery arm, means to locl a mail bagreceptacle between said member and said arm, and means ada ted when inlocked position to project into a inement With said trip arm, wherebysaid mail bag receptacle is released to engage said hook.

2. In a device of the character described,- a trame adjacent a railroadtrack, a receiving hook on said frame, a trip arm adjacent saidreceiving hook, a delivery arm on a car, a

ivoted member on said delivery arm, a mail bag receptacle, means thereoncooperating With said hinged member and said delivery arm, whereby saidmail bag receptacle is suspended when said hinged arm is closed, a latchon said hinged arm, and means on said latch disposed lin alinement Withsaid trip arm to release said mail bag receptacle to engage said hookarm.

3. In a device oi the character' described, a delivery arm having arecess therein, a member pivoted to said arm, a latch securing saidpivoted member and arm together, a mail bag receptacle having a lugadapted to i'it said recess, and means to lock said lug in said recess.

4. in a device oi the character described, a delivery arm having amember pivoted thereto, having a recess therein, a latch securing saidpivoted member and arm together, a mail bag receptacle having a lugadapted to lit said recess, and means to loci; said lug in said recess.

5. In a device of the character described, a delivery arm having arecess therein, a member pivoted in said arm having a recess adapted toaline With the first mentioned recess When the parts are in closedposition, a mail bag receptacle having a lug thereon adapted to entersaid recesses, and means to lock said lug Within the said recesses.

6. In a device of the character described, a delivery arm, a memberpivoted thereto, a latch adapted to lock said parts together, a mail bagreceptacle adapted to be secured to said delivery arm, and means torelease said. mail bag receptacle.

7. In a device of the character described, a delivery arm, a memberpivoted thereto, lmeans to secure a mail bag receptacle therebetween, alatch adapted to loch said pivoted member to said delivery arm, andmeans on said latch to engage a stationary member to release said mailbag receptacle.

8. ln a device oll the character described, a 'frame adjacent a railroadtrack, a delivery arm on said frame, a pivoted member on said deliveryarm, means to lock a mail bag recep tacle between said member and saidarm, a receiving hook on a car, a trip arm adjacent said receiving hook,and means on said pivoted member adapted to project into aline ment Withsaid trip arm to release a mail bag receptacle.

9. In a device oi' the character described, a delivery arm swinginglymounted on a support, a member pivoted thereto, a latch adapted to lochsaid parts together, a mail bag receptacle adapted to be secured to saiddelivery arm, and means to release said mail bag receptacle.

l0. ln a device of the character described, a support pivotally mountedon a car, a delivery arm and receiving hook rixedly mounted on saidsupport, a member pivoted to said delivery arm, a latch adapted to locksaid parts together, a mail bag receptacle adapted to be secured to saiddelivery arm, and means to release said mail bag recep tacle.

1l. ln a device of the character described, a support pivotally mountedon a car, adelivery arm and a receiving hool jiedly mounted on saidsupport, a loclr for holding said arm and hook exterior of said car, amember pivoted to said delivery arm, a latch adapted to loch said partstogether, a mail bag receptacle adapted to be secured to said deliveryarm, and means to release said mail bag receptacle.

l2. In a device of the character described, a support pivotally mountedin a car, a delivery arm and a receiving hook i redly mounted on saidsupport, a member pivcted to said delivery arm, a latch adapted to loclrsaid parts together, a mail-bag receptacle adapted to be secured to saiddelivery arm, and a trip arm adjacent said car to release said mail bagreceptacle.

HENRY GARNER.

vWitnesses ROBERT M. BARR, C. D. MGVAY.

